Several readers wrote recently with questions about traffic lights and signage.

Rosemary Hume wrote that the intersection of Northwest 39th Avenue and 43rd Street isn’t very conducive to walking or biking.

“The pedestrian lights aren’t much help, since it isn’t clear which button to push to cross which street – could signs be added at those buttons as they are at many intersections?” she wrote. “Also, it is peculiar that U-turns are prohibited for traffic going west, but allowed for eastbound traffic. Those U turns can be scary when a southbound vehicle is turning right on red without stopping. Maybe it’s time to prohibit U-turns for eastbound traffic too? And require a stop before turning right on red?”

City of Gainesville traffic operations manager Phil Mann said the city would install new signs if they are made by the Florida Department of Transportation, which has a sign shop.

Mann added that U-turns help residents of an apartment complex at the intersection who might attend or work at Santa Fe College.

“With the medians that were installed on NW 39th Avenue, the only way for those residents to return to their apartments … is to make a U-turn at the 43rd Street traffic signal. There is a sign for the eastbound U-turns that states that ‘U-Turn Yield to Right Turn,’” Mann said in an email.

Meanwhile, Nery P. Clark wrote about the illuminated signs beside some traffic signals around the University of Florida that prohibit right turns on red at certain times.

“Some are dimmed so it says, TURN ON RED, or NO RIGHT,” Clark said.

Mann said the fiber-optic lighting in the signs degrades at different rates, adding the lights do not have a dimness control.

“When the signs become in disrepair or the (FDOT) does an upgrade of the corridor, we will recommend that the signs be converted from fiber optic signs to internally illuminated LED signs,” he said. “The ones at Main Street & University Avenue are LED and similar to what we will request when the existing signs have to be replaced.”

About This Blog

The Sun wants to hear from you regarding the roads you travel to work and home. If you have questions, observations or just wish to sound off on your commute, send your comments to swirkoc@gvillesun.com.